The Columbian Muse of Comedy: The Development of a Native Tradition in Early American Social Comedy, 1787-1845

This is the first book of its kind to examine early American theatre from the perspective of its place in American literature rather than from the medium of the stage. Centering its attention on the distinctly American qualities of theme, technique and, most impor­tantly, character, the book covers the sixty-year period of native theatre be­tween Royall Tyler’s The Contrast (1787) and Anna Cora Mowatt’s Fashion (1845). Of the 150plays surveyed, Havens has chosen 15representative plays for in-depth examination and analysis.

Daniel F. Havens is Associate Profes­sor of American Literature at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.